Tokyo-based studio Do Do has designed this house and studio for a graphic designer and his wife, and created a special elevated pathway for their pet cat.

The two-storey residence named House-Is is clad in black corrugated metal and occupies a small plot of land in Tokyo's Koto-ku district.

Do Do was asked to include a studio space, as well as playful additions for the cat, in the couple's home.

A workspace for the graphic-designer client is set on the ground floor, where a white shelf at the top of the room leads to a square opening in the staircase banister – allowing the cat to pop in and out.

"The husband, who is a cat-owner, hoped his house to be creative both for his work and cat, and my aim was to create a comfortable living space in this busy district of Tokyo," explained the architect.

The studio has wooden floors and a small alcove for printing. A sliding white partition separates the space from a meeting room, which features a wooden table and bench seats.

The space has concrete floors and white walls intended as a blank backdrop for hanging artwork.

A folding door provides the main entrance to the minimal house, which features bright white walls and accents of light-coloured wood.

A tall staircase balustrade with integrated cabinets acts as a partition between the ground-level workspace and the living areas up above.

A square window – a larger version of the cat-sized doorway – lights the staircase leading up to the lounge.

Built-in furniture is used to define spaces throughout. A black wooden storage unit in the centre of the space houses the television, as well as separating the bedroom from the living room.

The bathroom, kitchen and laundry room occupy a central white volume, which has an opening to the lounge area. It is wrapped by a further staircase that leads to a garden on the rooftop.

House-Is is not the first time that architects have been requested to design residences with a client's feline friend in mind.

Others include another property in Tokyo by Key Operation that was designed around the movements of the pet, while OBBA completed a house in Seoul with a dedicated cat loft.